FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Era Sports Management Launches NBL-Africa, Bridging U.S. and African Pro-Development Basketball
Season Tips Off June 6, 2026 with Eight Countries and Two NBL-US Teams Participating

Johannesburg, South Africa — September 1, 2025 — New Era Sports Management today announced the official launch of NBL-Africa, a new pan-continental professional development basketball league that will debut on June 6, 2026. The league will feature clubs from eight African countries alongside two invited teams from the NBL-United States (NBL-US)that will travel to Africa and compete across the NBL-Africa calendar. A parallel women’s competition, WNBL-Africa, will also debut, expanding opportunities for women athletes, coaches, and executives across the continent.

Under the leadership of New Era Sports Management Partner Will Campbell, NBL-Africa and NBL-US have formalized a historic bridge designed to accelerate player development, expand scouting pathways, and deepen cultural and commercial ties between African and American basketball ecosystems.

“NBL-Africa is built to unlock opportunity,” said Will Campbell, Partner at New Era Sports Management. “By connecting the NBL-United States pathway with emerging African basketball markets, we’re creating an ecosystem where talent can rise, where coaches and referees can grow, and where communities can rally around world-class competition. This is not just a league launch—it’s the start of a sustainable bridge between continents.”

A Pan-African Platform with Global Connectivity

• Founding Footprint: NBL-Africa will launch with eight (8) countries competing in the inaugural season. Final team locations, ownership groups, and host venues will be revealed in staged announcements over the coming weeks.

• U.S. Integration: Two (2) NBL-US teams will be embedded into the 2026 competition slate, traveling to Africa to compete in official league fixtures and special showcase events.

• Women’s League: WNBL-Africa will mirror the NBL-Africa structure to elevate women’s basketball pathways—on the court and in leadership roles.

Competition Format & Season Milestones (High-Level)

• Season Start: June 6, 2026 (6-6-2026).

• Structure: Multi-stage regular season with inter-country fixtures and a postseason championship hosted by a selected founding market.

• Showcases: Select cross-conference showcases will feature the NBL-US invitees competing against African clubs in marquee matchups.

• Broadcast/Media: Domestic and international broadcast, streaming, and content partners will be announced separately; league-wide content standards and media rights packages are in development.

Governance, Leadership & Operations

• Commissioner: The NBL-Africa Commissioner will be announced soon, along with the formation of a Competition Committee, Medical & Integrity Committee, and Game Operations Standards aligned with international best practices.

• League Office: Core operational units will include Competition & Scheduling, Referee Development, Club Services, Sponsorship & Media Rights, Community & Youth Development, and Safety & Education.

• Player Pathways: League registration, transfer rules, talent identification camps, and cross-border eligibility guidelines will be released ahead of tryouts.

Player Tryouts, Team Announcements & Schedule Reveal

• Tryouts: Market-by-market open tryouts and invite-only combines will be announced soon, with registration details and eligibility criteria published on the league website.

• Team Locations: The eight founding countries and their host cities will be unveiled in a dedicated series of announcements, including details on ownership groups, home venues, and community engagement plans.

• Schedule: The full 2026 schedule—including regular season, showcase weekends, and postseason format—will follow the team/location reveal.

“Africa is one of the most dynamic basketball frontiers in the world,” said Kevin Williams Sr., President of the NBL-United States. “We’re honored to help launch a platform that pairs local passion with global competition. NBL-Africa will empower players to be seen, developed, and connected to opportunities—whether that’s across the continent, in the U.S., or internationally.”

Community Impact & Development Pillars

NBL-Africa and WNBL-Africa are committed to building a sustainable, community-first model, anchored by:

• Youth & Grassroots: Free and low-cost clinics, coach education, and officiating workshops in partnership with local stakeholders.

• Education & Careers: Internships in sports business, media, event operations, athletic training, and analytics.

• Health & Safety: League-wide standards for athlete care, game operations, and integrity measures.

• Women’s Leadership: A targeted pipeline for women in coaching, officiating, team operations, and league governance.

About NBL-Africa

NBL-Africa is a pan-continental professional development basketball league launching on June 6, 2026. The league connects elite African talent with global opportunities through a competitive schedule, club services, and international showcases—including the integration of two NBL-US teams. NBL-Africa emphasizes sustainable club operations, community impact, and transparent pathways for players, coaches, and officials.

About WNBL-Africa

WNBL-Africa is the women’s professional development platform operating alongside NBL-Africa, dedicated to competitive excellence and leadership pathways for women on and off the court. The league advances equitable access to competition, training, and career development across basketball operations.

About NBL-United States (NBL-US)

NBL-US is a U.S.-based professional development league connecting athletes to college, international, and professional opportunities through structured competition, player development, and a growing national footprint. NBL-US will integrate two teams into the NBL-Africa 2026 season.

About New Era Sports Management

New Era Sports Management is a basketball-focused management and athlete-branding company dedicated to building modern development pathways for players and to delivering innovative league and media partnerships across the United States and internationally.

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Media & Participation Inquiries

• Website: For updates on Commissioner, team locations, schedule, and tryouts, visit africanbl.com.